Set sail for the annual cardboard regatta

Kathleen Talenco is the marketing and communications supervisor for the Glen Ellyn Park District.

For some, the sky’s the limit. For others, it’s the bottom of the sea. For everyone, it’s the 20th anniversary of the Lake Ellyn Cardboard Regatta.

Over the past two decades, thousands have competed and even more have come to watch. We’re inviting all to return and join the fun.

This year’s regatta will be at noon Saturday at Lake Ellyn Park. The event is free to spectators.

A special addition to this year is the paddle board race. Participants can test their balance while standing and paddling a cardboard paddle board 50 feet out and back. The last person standing with the fastest time receives a first place trophy. Entries receive five sheets of corrugated cardboard to build a paddle board.

Space is limited to 10 paddle boards. The entry fee for paddle boards is $25 for residents and $38 for nonresidents.

This year’s festivities include a coloring contest, commemorative giveaways for participants and limited edition T-shirts for sale to the public. We’d love to see the whole town participate in this annual tradition and encourage local businesses to decorate their windows for the regatta.

The coloring contest is for children, ages 3 to 8. Regatta rules prevent them from sailing, but they can participate by creating a picture of what their boat would look like if they could sail one.

Entrants receive a 12-by-12-inch piece of cardboard to create their image. All media is acceptable. Entry forms can be picked up at Main Street Recreation Center, 501 Hill Ave., during regular business hours.

Bring completed pictures to the bandshell in Lake Ellyn Park the day of the regatta for judging and display between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Cost to enter is $5 a child. Entries should include the child’s name, age, address and phone number printed on the back.

Regatta rules, boat building information and online registration can be found on the Glen Ellyn Park District website and in the park district spring and summer program guide. The boat entry fee is $50 for park district residents and $75 for non-residents. Each entry receives ten sheets of corrugated cardboard to build a boat.

Entry deadline for boats and paddle boards is noon Friday. For information about the regatta, call the Glen Ellyn Park District at 630-858-2462.

Kathleen Talenco is the marketing and communications supervisor for the Glen Ellyn Park District